„We are really highly satisfied. Dubai war great fun”, comments a relaxed Matthias Weiland the participation of his team at the first 24 Hour Race of the year in the deserts of Dubai. With position twelve, Weiland Racing succeeded to enter the top fifteen overall with their Porsche 997 GT3 Cup. In their class, the five drivers just missed the class win and finished into place two.
In his team of drivers, Weiland Racing relies upon a well-balanced combination of experienced drivers and a young hotspur. In addition to team manager Matthias Weiland, the team was made up of his brother Andreas Weiland, Stefan Müller, the only 19 years old Valentin Hummel and top driver Jörg Viebahn. All of the drivers used the practice sessions to become familiar with the race track. “For some of us, this was the first time here at Dubai. It was hence very important to start the weekend easily and relaxed and to give everyone the time he needed to experience the circuit”, explained Matthias Weiland.
Jörg Viebahn was straightaway fastest driver and also set the fastest time in qualifying at the desert circuit. “This time, however, was not that decisive for us as you must first complete the whole race distance to succeed and you do not win it at the first corner”, said Weiland. And this is exactly how it was to come. Within the first two race hours, the Weiland Porsche moved up into the top 15 in the overall classification. At the same time, a close fight in their class between Weiland Racing and De Lorenzi Racing became apparent.
The team from Italy turned out to be a tough rival over almost 16 hours race time. Sometimes Weiland was in the lead and sometimes the Porsche 997 GT3 Cup of their Italian competitors, before the racing team from Frankfurt/ Germany then managed to move away and to confirm their leading position. “Unfortunately, the reckoning won’t be before the race end and after 24 hours”, was Matthias Weiland’s comment on the running of the last eight hours. First of all, the V-belt in the Weiland Porsche broke and forced the team to proceed to an unscheduled pit stop. A small stone was thrown into the engine compartment and caused the damage. Their Italian rivals, however, were also slowed down due to a technical failure.
During an overtaking manoeuvre, Valentin Hummel was then pushed off the track and crashed through a Styrofoam board, upon which the front lip spoiler broke away and the windscreen was damaged. “It is impossible to drive without the front lip spoiler and we had thus to come to the pits again for another stop. As we couldn’t repair the windscreen damage, we just continued the race with the damaged screen” said Matthias Weiland who was very pleased that the Weiland Porsche nevertheless achieved the fastest lap in the last hour of the race, despite the restricted visibility. “This confirms that our car was running perfectly until the race end and that our mechanics had done a fantastic job in preparing the Porsche.”
The fact that the drivers did not break down regarding their physical condition at the end of the various stints was due to the ventilation system “Ventsuit” which they were wearing under their racing overalls. “That was a small, very comfortable air conditioning.” Under bright sunshine and an air temperature of 27 °C, their decision in favour of this system was worth its weight in gold.
Weiland Racing was finally only beaten by their permanent rivals from Italy. They had simply lost too much time due to Hummel’s accident. Matthias Weiland, however, did not address any reproaches to the 19 years old race driver. “This may happen in such a long race. It could also have happened to any of us.”
The 24 Hour Race of Dubai was the opening round for a complete season 2011. Weiland Racing will start at all of the ten VLN rounds with at least two Cup Porsche. The racing team from Frankfurt/ Germany will also compete with two cars in the 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring. Furthermore, Matthias Weiland intends to participate in the “biggest Porsche race” of the world to take place during this huge classical race in the Eifel region. Before the start of the 24 Hour Race, about 200 Cup Porsche are scheduled to complete six laps around the Nordschleife to determine the Carrera World Cup winner.
Matthias Weiland is currently looking for the perfect drivers for all of the races. “We will make our selection without any hurry and then compete with a powerful team.” Just as in 2010, Weiland Racing aims at becoming the best Cup Porsche Team in the VLN and thus at the Nordschleife.
